Editorial: Academic standouts get their due

It is a common scene this time of year: a strapping young high school athlete signs a letter of intent to play college sports during a signing ceremony where his or her parents, coaches and often the local media look on proudly.

But what about those students who excel in the classroom, not the athletic field, and have also earned scholarships to attend college? Don't they deserve the same recognition?

Administrators at the Las Cruces school district think so, and held the district's first Academic Signing Day last week. A standing-room-only crowd filled the Arrowhead Park Medical Academy multipurpose room to honor 61 outstanding seniors who all have earned academic scholarships to continue their education.

"I think, a lot of times, we recognize the students who excel in sports because it's such a visible part of the community, such a visible activity," Deputy Superintendent Stephen Sanchez said. "But the children who are getting recognized tonight are really going to be game-changers in our world. And for that, we owe them every bit of recognition that we can give them — they're going to change the world."

About half of the students honored plan to stay in-state, either at New Mexico State or the University of Mexico. Others will be off to Ivy League schools like Harvard, Princeton and Yale.

"It's really indescribable, the amount of scholarships awarded, and everything these students have accomplished before even finishing high school — presenting at international conferences, publishing academic papers, earning college degrees," said Wendi Miller-Tomlinson, LCPS director of secondary instruction.